The Olfactory Library

Welcome to the building blocks of the invisible art. If a perfume is a symphony, then these are the individual notes on the sheet music—the singular elements that the perfumer arranges to create a melody that lingers on your skin.


Whether you are here to understand why you adore Vetiver but detest Patchouli, or simply to find out what "Iso E Super" actually is, this library is your guide.

Florals

The undisputed heart of perfumery, ranging from the innocent whisper of a spring muguet to the narcotic, carnal shout of a tuberose. These notes provide the romance and the texture, proving that flowers are far too complex to be considered merely 'pretty'.

Tulip note image

Tulip

Mostly scentless. A fantasy green, saffron-like note.

Heather note image

Heather

A purple shrub covering the moors. Smells dry, mossy, and slightly floral.

Azteca Lily note image

Azteca Lily

A striking red flower with a scent that is fresh and slightly spicy. It feels vibrant and Central American.

Cyclamen note image

Cyclamen

A clean, mysterious floral scent. It smells fresh, slightly soapy, and cool.

Desert Rose note image

Desert Rose

Not a true rose, but an Adenium. It has a faint, watery floral scent that feels resilient and clean.

Deadnettle note image

Deadnettle

A common weed with a faint, honeyed-herbal smell. It adds a touch of wild hedgerow to a composition.

Dianthus note image

Dianthus

The botanical name for Carnation and Pinks. It smells spicy (clove-like) and peppery-sweet.

Astragalus note image

Astragalus

An herb used in traditional medicine with a sweet, earthy, root-like smell. It feels grounding and restorative.

Encian note image

Encian

Gentian. It smells bitter, earthy, and herbal.

Delonix note image

Delonix

The Flame Tree, offering a subtle tropical floral note. It smells vaguely of orchids and ferns.

Orchid Black Diamond note image

Orchid Black Diamond

Marketing fantasy. Dark, spicy floral.

Fragonia note image

Fragonia

An Australian oil smelling of citrus, florals, and tea tree. It is complex and balanced.

Nigella note image

Nigella

Love-in-a-mist. The seeds smell of strawberry and oregano.

Phlox note image

Phlox

Sweet, honeyed, and spicy.

Flax note image

Flax

Linseed. It smells nutty, oily, and grainy.

Peach Blossom note image

Peach Blossom

A delicate, airy floral scent with a whisper of fruitiness. It smells pink and spring-like.

Pomegranate Blossom note image

Pomegranate Blossom

Floral and slightly fruity.

Hyssop note image

Hyssop

An ancient herb. Smells camphorous, minty, and spicy.

Field Scabious note image

Field Scabious

A wildflower with a soft, honey-like scent.

Nerium Oleander note image

Nerium Oleander

A sweet, apricot-like floral scent. Poisonous plant.

View All Florals Notes

Fruits, Nuts & Savoury Notes

This is the scent of the orchard and the vegetable patch rather than the patisserie, capturing the crisp snap of an apple or the earthy grit of a carrot. These notes add a mouth-watering texture and vitality, bringing a sense of abundance and natural realism that prevents a fragrance from feeling too abstract.

Daikon Radish note image

Daikon Radish

Peppery, crisp, and watery. It adds a sharp, earthy crunch that feels decidedly modern and savory.

Red Fruits Smoothie note image

Red Fruits Smoothie

Creamy berry blend. Lactonic and fruity.

Candlenut note image

Candlenut

An oily nut used in Southeast Asian cooking. It smells fatty and mild.

Black Currant note image

Black Currant

Tart, jammy, and slightly ammoniac—some say 'catty,' I say characterful. It adds a dark, purple richness that is utterly distinctive.

Green Pear note image

Green Pear

Juicy and grainy. It adds a transparent sweetness.

Ashberry note image

Ashberry

The fruit of the Rowan tree, smelling tart, bitter, and wild. It adds a sharp, foraging vibe to fruity notes.

Conifer note image

Conifer

A general term for pine/fir/spruce. Smells resinous, green, and sharp.

Greengage note image

Greengage

A green plum. Tart, sweet, and honeyed.

Breadnut note image

Breadnut

Similar to chestnut, smelling starchy and nutty. It provides a savory, food-like base.

Dark Plum Wu Mei note image

Dark Plum Wu Mei

Smoked, dried plums used in Chinese medicine. It smells sour, smoky, and distinctively savory-fruity.

Cherry Jam note image

Cherry Jam

Cooked cherries and sugar. Intense, sticky fruitiness.

Frosted Berries note image

Frosted Berries

Berries with a cold, icy aspect. Sugary and sharp.

Ground Cherry note image

Ground Cherry

Physalis/Cape Gooseberry. Tart, tomato-like, and sweet.

Brazil Nut note image

Brazil Nut

Rich, fatty, and oily nut scent. It adds a buttery, tropical heaviness.

Carambola (Star Fruit) note image

Carambola (Star Fruit)

Watery, sour-sweet fruit. It adds a crisp, geometric freshness.

Almond note image

Almond

Bittersweet and creamy, sometimes leaning towards marzipan or cherry. It adds a comforting, nutty gourmand facet to perfumes.

Black Walnut note image

Black Walnut

Distinctive, earthy, and oily nut scent. It smells darker and more tannic than regular walnuts.

Dried Apricot note image

Dried Apricot

A dense, chewy orange fruit scent. It smells like concentrated sunshine and leather.

Bearberry note image

Bearberry

A small red berry found in cold climates, smelling tart and dry. It adds a crisp, wild fruitiness.

Currant Leaf and Bud note image

Currant Leaf and Bud

Cassis. It smells green, fruity, tart, and animalic.

View All Fruits, Nuts & Savoury Notes Notes

Musk, Amber, Animalic Smells

These are the sensual heavyweights that linger on the skin long after the citrus has fled, providing warmth, depth, and a certain human intimacy. From the cozy, golden glow of amber to the primitive, purring growl of civet, these notes transform a simple scent into a living, breathing entity.

Meat note image

Meat

Raw or cooked flesh. Iron-like, savory, and primal.

Genet note image

Genet

Broom flower. It smells honeyed, hay-like, and slightly tobacco-ish.

Hyraceum note image

Hyraceum

Fossilized Hyrax droppings. Sounds dreadful, smells amazing: leathery, musky, and earthy (and cruelty-free).

Ambrocenide (Symrise) note image

Ambrocenide (Symrise)

A powerhouse woody-amber synthetic that is extremely long-lasting. It provides a sharp, agarwood-like dryness to the base.

Aldron note image

Aldron

An animalic synthetic that mimics body heat and slight sweat. It adds a lived-in, human sensuality to otherwise sterile scents.

Ambergris note image

Ambergris

The gold standard of fixatives, smelling of salty skin and warm ocean air. It possesses a magical ability to make a fragrance shimmer and last forever.

Daim note image

Daim

The French term for suede; it smells softer and more velvety than full leather. It evokes the inside of a luxury handbag.

Kephalis note image

Kephalis

A synthetic wood note smelling of warm amber, tobacco, and old wood.

Muskrat note image

Muskrat

An animalic musk. Similar to civet but soapier.

Ambrarome note image

Ambrarome

An absolute that smells leathery, tar-like, and animalic with amber undertones. It adds a vintage, masculine grit to the base.

Ambrostar note image

Ambrostar

A modern captive molecule that offers a dry, vibrant woody-amber effect. It helps a fragrance lift off the skin and sparkle.

Amber note image

Amber

A fantasy accord that wraps you up like a cashmere throw. It’s warm, resinous, and vanillic, providing a golden glow to the dry-down.

Caviar note image

Caviar

Salty, fishy, and savory. It adds a luxury marine aspect, famously used in Mugler's Womanity.

Carrot Seeds note image

Carrot Seeds

Dry, woody, and earthy. It acts as a bridge between iris notes and woods.

Starfish note image

Starfish

Marine animal. Salty and fleshy.

Tolu Balsam note image

Tolu Balsam

Sweet resin. Cinnamon and vanilla scent.

Sylkolide note image

Sylkolide

A refined musk. Fruity and powdery.

Ambertonic™ (IFF) note image

Ambertonic™ (IFF)

A modern molecule that is deep, musky, and woody with a dry heat. It gives a fragrance a contemporary, vibrating trail.

Castoreum note image

Castoreum

Intensely leathery and animalic, smelling of ink and musk. It provides a dark, vintage sensuality that is certainly not for the faint of heart.

Ambrette (Musk Mallow) note image

Ambrette (Musk Mallow)

A vegetal musk derived from seeds, smelling of pear brandy and clean skin. It is one of the few natural musks and feels incredibly sophisticated.

View All Musk, Amber, Animalic Smells Notes

Beverages

Whether it is the effervescent joy of champagne, the roasted bitterness of espresso, or the warming embrace of a good cognac, these notes add a distinct 'flavour' to the air. They invoke specific moods and social rituals, taking the wearer from a morning café to a dimly lit jazz bar in a single spritz.

Molecules, Minerals & Curiosities

This is the avant-garde laboratory of the perfumer, featuring everything from the smell of hot rain on asphalt to the invisible radiance of Iso E Super. These notes are often less about a specific 'smell' and more about a texture, a feeling, or an atmospheric vibration that gives modern fragrances their edge.

Veloutone note image

Veloutone

Peach/apricot lactone with a lavender nuance.

Brown Scotch Tape note image

Brown Scotch Tape

A specific avant-garde note capturing the glue and plastic smell of packing tape. Industrial and weird.

Apple Shisha Accord note image

Apple Shisha Accord

Sweet apple tobacco smoke, sticky and aromatic. It captures the social atmosphere of a hookah lounge.

Dodecanal note image

Dodecanal

An aldehyde that smells waxy, citrusy, and like clean pine. It smells intensely 'fresh' and soapy.

Fabric note image

Fabric

The smell of cotton, wool, or linen. Usually a musk accord evoking laundry.

Fish note image

Fish

Marine and amine-like. Rarely used literally, but part of some daring marine accords.

Eugenol note image

Eugenol

The main component of clove oil. Smells spicy, warm, and medicinal (like a dentist's office).

Damascone note image

Damascone

A potent aroma chemical that gives roses their fruity, apple-like jamminess. It smells vibrant and rosy-sweet.

AMBROX® SUPER note image

AMBROX® SUPER

A highly refined version of Ambroxan with greater impact and elegance. It smells of clean skin, mineral salts, and dry woods.

Cobblestone note image

Cobblestone

A fantasy mineral note. It smells of rain on cold stone streets.

Brick note image

Brick

The smell of baked clay and dust. It creates a mineral, urban atmosphere.

Camphor note image

Camphor

Cool, mothball-like, and medicinal. It clears the sinuses and adds a freezing effect.

Fior di Latte note image

Fior di Latte

Milk flower or fresh mozzarella. It smells purely lactonic, creamy, and mild.

Snow note image

Snow

Cold, ozone, and earth. A fantasy of purity.

Silk note image

Silk

A fantasy texture. Smooth, cool, and airy.

Sunscreen note image

Sunscreen

Coconut, salicylate, and cream. The smell of the beach.

White Leather note image

White Leather

Clean, soft leather. Less smoky than black leather.

Cigarette note image

Cigarette

Unburnt tobacco and paper, or ash. It adds a gritty, noir vibe.

Steam accord note image

Steam accord

Hot water vapor. Humid and clean.

Linen note image

Linen

Clean cloth. It is a musk-based fantasy note of fresh laundry.

View All Molecules, Minerals & Curiosities Notes

Gourmand

An unapologetically hedonistic category dedicated to the pleasures of the patisserie, featuring dripping caramel, fluffy cotton candy, and rich chocolate. While purists may scoff, there is a profound, primal comfort in these sugary notes that bypasses the brain and goes straight to the stomach—and the heart.

Candied Ginger note image

Candied Ginger

Spicy heat tempered by crystal sugar. It is zesty and warming.

Dates note image

Dates

Sticky, honeyed fruit with a dense, sugary profile. It evokes the warmth and richness of the Middle East.

Macarons note image

Macarons

Almond meringue cookies. Sugary, nutty, and airy.

Candied Orange note image

Candied Orange

Sweet, sticky orange peel. It smells festive, often associated with Christmas cakes.

Bubbaloo note image

Bubbaloo

A specific brand of liquid-filled gum. Smells intensely synthetic, fruity, and sweet.

Horchata note image

Horchata

Rice milk, cinnamon, and sugar. Creamy and comforting.

Eggnog note image

Eggnog

Nutmeg, cream, and rum. It smells undeniably like Christmas.

Hazelnut Cocoa Spread note image

Hazelnut Cocoa Spread

Nutella. Oily, sweet chocolate nuttiness.

Churros note image

Churros

Fried dough and cinnamon sugar. It is greasy, sweet, and comforting.

Croissant note image

Croissant

Butter and baked dough. It evokes a Parisian morning.

Crème Brûlée note image

Crème Brûlée

Burnt sugar and vanilla custard. It smells rich, egg-y, and caramelized.

Frosting [Glacé] note image

Frosting [Glacé]

Pure sugar and fat. Sweet, vanilla-heavy, and dense.

Griotte Cherries note image

Griotte Cherries

Morello cherries. Sour, dark, and often used in baking.

Gingerbread note image

Gingerbread

Warm ginger, molasses, and cinnamon. A cozy holiday gourmand scent.

Apple Licor note image

Apple Licor

A synthetic, candy-sweet apple alcohol note. It’s neon-green and playful, reminiscent of teenage cocktails.

Banana Bread note image

Banana Bread

Warm, spicy, and yeasty with the sweetness of ripe bananas. It’s pure comfort food for the nose.

Butterscotch note image

Butterscotch

Brown sugar and butter. It smells deeper and more molasses-like than caramel.

Cream note image

Cream

Lactonic, smooth, and fatty. It rounds out sharp edges.

Cherry Syrup note image

Cherry Syrup

Medicinal and sugary. Often smells like cough syrup.

Cosmofruit™ (IFF) note image

Cosmofruit™ (IFF)

A synthetic fruity note smelling of quince and pear. It is diffusive and sweet.

View All Gourmand Notes

Woods & Earth

The stoic backbone of fragrance, grounding the flightier notes with the scent of ancient trunks, dry bark, and the damp, shadowed floor of the forest. Ranging from the creamy spirituality of sandalwood to the dry, pencil-shaving snap of cedar, these notes provide structure, longevity, and a timeless elegance.

Coconut Tree note image

Coconut Tree

The woody trunk scent. Dry, fibrous, and slightly salty.

Ebony Tree note image

Ebony Tree

Dark, dense, and slightly spicy wood. It feels mysterious and solid.

Hinoki Wood note image

Hinoki Wood

Japanese Cypress. It smells lemony, woody, and sacred (used in temples and baths).

Massoia note image

Massoia

A bark smelling of coconut, dried milk, and wood. Extremely lactonic.

Amaranth note image

Amaranth

An earthy, grainy scent that smells slightly like dry hay or cereal. It adds a wholesome, rustic texture to a fragrance.

Hiba note image

Hiba

A Japanese cypress. It smells intensely woody, cedar-like, and citrusy.

Ravenala note image

Ravenala

Traveler's Palm. Green and woody.

Ditax wood note image

Ditax wood

A rare wood from Senegal. It smells dry and slightly fruity.

Neem note image

Neem

Bitter, garlicky, and nutty. Usually medicinal.

Australian Blue Cypress note image

Australian Blue Cypress

A unique cypress oil that is blue in color and smells woody, smoky, and honeyed. It is complex and smoother than pine.

Larch note image

Larch

A conifer scent. Resinous, turpentine-like, and fresh.

Pepperwood or Hercules Club note image

Pepperwood or Hercules Club

A spicy, aromatic wood scent.

Mesquite Wood note image

Mesquite Wood

The wood itself. Earthy and dry.

Mulberry plant note image

Mulberry plant

Green and woody.

Manuka note image

Manuka

New Zealand Tea Tree. Honeyed, earthy, and aromatic.

Driftwood note image

Driftwood

Sun-bleached wood soaked in sea salt. It smells dry, musky, and oceanic.

Malaysian Oud note image

Malaysian Oud

Often sweeter and spicier than Indian oud. Can have cola nuances.

Guaiac Wood note image

Guaiac Wood

An exotic wood that smells smoky, rubbery, and rose-like. It adds a luxurious depth often described as 'bacon-y'.

Dartanol® note image

Dartanol®

A synthetic sandalwood note that is creamy, spicy, and very persistent. It creates a smooth, woody foundation.

Paraguayan Green Sandalwood note image

Paraguayan Green Sandalwood

Guaiac wood. Smoky and woody.

View All Woods & Earth Notes

White Flowers

A distinct league of floral powerhouses including Tuberose, Jasmine, and Gardenia, known for their creamy, narcotic heaviness that often intensifies as the sun goes down. Unlike their shy daylight cousins, these blooms possess a carnal, indolic undertone—a whisper of animalic warmth amidst the sweetness—that makes them unapologetically sensual and dominating.

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

Like neroli but sharper. Floral with a bitter citrus edge.

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

Arum Lily note image

Arum Lily

A fleshy white floral scent that can be slightly animalic. It smells grand and imposing, like a wedding bouquet.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

An African flower smelling of jasmine, chocolate, and spices. It is rich and dark.

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

A genre (Jasmine, Tuberose, Gardenia). Indolic, creamy, and heady.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

Heady, creamy white floral with a distinct mushroomy or blue cheese undertone. It is lush and narcotic.

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

Carnal, creamy, and loud. It smells of flesh, bubblegum, and green stems.

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

A tree with white flowers that smell intensely sweet and honeyed, similar to orange blossom but heavier.

Belanis note image

Belanis

A synthetic molecule that smells of anise and white florals. It bridges the gap between spice and petal.

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

Waxy white floral with a citrus edge. Fresh and pretty.

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Carissa note image

Carissa

Natal Plum blossoms, smelling similar to gardenia and jasmine. A lush, white floral.

Boronia note image

Boronia

A rare Australian flower with a complex scent of fruit, wood, and violet. It is expensive and highly prized.

Lily note image

Lily

Spicy, waxy, and heady. It smells regal and sometimes slightly salty/meaty.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

White Tobacco note image

White Tobacco

Nicotiana flower. Sweet and jasmine-like.

View All White Flowers Notes

Botanicals & Aromatics

This is the scent of the apothecary’s garden and the gentleman’s barber, full of crushed leaves, bracing mint, and the calming herbaceousness of lavender. These notes cut through heat and heaviness with a savory, green clarity that feels restorative, intelligent, and famously spirited.

Gyokuro Tea note image

Gyokuro Tea

High-grade Japanese green tea. Umami-rich, grassy, and marine (seaweed-like).

Cactus note image

Cactus

Green, watery, and succulent. It evokes the desert after rain, fresh and clean.

Fermented Tea note image

Fermented Tea

Kombucha or Pu-erh. It smells sour, earthy, and yeasty.

Green Pepper note image

Green Pepper

Bell pepper. It smells remarkably crunchy, watery, and green.

Hat Straw note image

Hat Straw

Dried grass and sun. Evokes summer hats and baskets.

Calamus note image

Calamus

A wetland reed smelling woody, spicy, and warm. It has an ancient, papyrus-like vibe.

Fo Ti (Ho Shou Wu) note image

Fo Ti (Ho Shou Wu)

A Chinese medicinal root. Earthy, bittersweet, and herbaceous.

Asparagus note image

Asparagus

Distinctly vegetal and savory, bordering on sulfurous. It’s a brave, avant-garde choice for green fragrances.

Azolla (Water Fern) note image

Azolla (Water Fern)

A small aquatic fern that smells green, damp, and mossy. It evokes the stillness of a pond covered in duckweed.

Behini Tree note image

Behini Tree

A rare Malagasy tree with a green, woody aroma. It smells exotic and unfamiliar to Western noses.

Henna note image

Henna

Earthy, dry, and hay-like. It smells like the powdered dye.

Fougère Accord note image

Fougère Accord

The classic 'barbershop' smell: Lavender, Oakmoss, and Coumarin. Clean, masculine, and timeless.

Hops note image

Hops

Bitter, green, and resinous. It smells like IPA beer and cannabis.

Chicory note image

Chicory

Roasted root often used as a coffee substitute. It smells woody and caramel-like.

Galbanum note image

Galbanum

Intensely bitter green resin. It smells like snapped pea pods and green peppers—sharp and bracing.

Keemun Tea note image

Keemun Tea

A Chinese black tea with a wine-like, fruity, and smoky aroma.

Geranium Macrorrhizum (Zdravetz) note image

Geranium Macrorrhizum (Zdravetz)

Bulgarian geranium. It smells more woody, herbal, and spicy than the floral variety.

Angelica Root note image

Angelica Root

Earthier and muskier than the plant, with a damp soil quality. It serves as a fantastic natural fixative with a dark green character.

Earl Grey Tea note image

Earl Grey Tea

Black tea infused with bergamot oil. It is citrusy, tannic, and utterly civilized.

Green Notes note image

Green Notes

A category for crushed leaves, grass, and stems. Fresh and vibrant.

View All Botanicals & Aromatics Notes

Spices

These ingredients bring the heat and the vibration, adding a three-dimensional hum to a composition that tickles the nose and wakes up the palate. From the cooling, camphorous touch of cardamom to the fiery crackle of black pepper, spices prevent a fragrance from ever feeling flat or boring.

Toscanol note image

Toscanol

Aromatic chemical. Anise and herbal.

Coriander note image

Coriander

The seed, not the leaf. It smells woody, spicy, citrusy, and warm.

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

A pepper variety with a camphorous, allspice-like scent. Cooler than black pepper.

Cinnamon Leaf note image

Cinnamon Leaf

Smells like clove and cinnamon combined. It is harsher and greener than the bark.

Curry note image

Curry

A blend of spices (cumin, fenugreek). It smells savory and warm.

Pimento Leaf note image

Pimento Leaf

Greener and sharper than the berry. Very spicy.

Dill note image

Dill

Aromatic, green, and savory—yes, it smells like pickles. It adds a surprising culinary freshness.

Nutmeg note image

Nutmeg

Dry, spicy, and woody. It adds a warm, dusty heat.

Peppertree note image

Peppertree

Schinus molle. Resinous, woody, and peppery.

Oily Notes note image

Oily Notes

Fatty, slick, and heavy. Used to mimic mechanics or food.

Siam Cardamom note image

Siam Cardamom

Amomum. Camphorous and spicy.

Fennel note image

Fennel

Sweet, green anise flavor. It adds a cool, herbal licorice note.

Saffron note image

Saffron

Red gold. It smells leathery, metallic, and medicinal. The most expensive spice in the world.

Sesame note image

Sesame

Toasted seeds. Nutty, oily, and savory.

Pink Pepper note image

Pink Pepper

Not a true pepper, but a berry. It smells rosy, sparkling, and like gin.

Cassia note image

Cassia

Chinese cinnamon. It smells hotter, sharper, and woodier than true cinnamon.

Cardamom note image

Cardamom

A duality of cool camphor and warm spice. It’s sophisticated and aromatic, often making a fragrance feel effortlessly expensive.

Kaempferia Galanga note image

Kaempferia Galanga

Aromatic ginger. It smells spicy but also dusty and camphorous.

Indian Spices note image

Indian Spices

A masala blend of cumin, coriander, and cardamom. Warm, savory, and vibrating with heat.

Chutney note image

Chutney

Spiced fruit relish. It smells savory, sweet, and vinegary.

View All Spices Notes

Resins And Balsams

The ancient tears of trees, these materials have been burned in rituals for millennia and bring a sacred, meditative smoke to perfumery. They are thick, sticky, and profoundly complex, offering a sweet, leathery darkness that feels like a protective cloak against the cold.

Incense note image

Incense

Smoke, resin, and ritual. It captures the cold, spiritual air of a cathedral or a temple.

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

Lemony, piney, and cold. It smells of high church mass and ancient rituals.

Dragon Blood Resin note image

Dragon Blood Resin

A bright red resin that smells sweet, spicy, and slightly woody. It is lighter and cleaner than frankincense.

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green note image

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green

High-grade green frankincense. Smells brighter and more citrusy.

Elemi note image

Elemi

A resin that smells surprisingly like lemon, pine, and pepper. It is bright and balsamic.

Copal note image

Copal

A resin used in incense in Mexico. It smells bright, lemony, and piney.

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

Pine Tar note image

Pine Tar

Smoky, leathery, and dark. Smells of campfires and ships.

Styrax note image

Styrax

Sweet, spicy, and leather-like resin. Smells of plastic and balsam.

Labdanum note image

Labdanum

The cornerstone of amber accords. It smells leathery, sweet, dirty, and warm all at once.

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

Clean, low-smoke incense usually based on sandalwood and aloeswood. It is meditative and dry.

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

A desert plant with a waxy bark that burns brightly. It smells resinous, incense-like, and sweet.

Balsamic Notes note image

Balsamic Notes

A group of resinous materials like benzoin and myrrh that smell warm, sweet, and thick. They wrap a fragrance in a cozy amber blanket.

Surf Wax note image

Surf Wax

Coconut and paraffin. Beachy.

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

A resin that smells of mushrooms, licorice, and earth. It is darker and stranger than frankincense.

Benzoin note image

Benzoin

A comforting balsamic resin that smells of vanilla and cinnamon. It gives fragrances a cozy, almost edible warmth without being overly sugary.

Peru Balsam note image

Peru Balsam

Rich, sweet, and vanilla-like resin. It acts as a fixative and smooths everything out.

Estoraque note image

Estoraque

Liquidambar. It smells balsamic, cinnamic, and styrax-like.

Bois d'Encens note image

Bois d'Encens

Incense wood. It smells peppery, resinous, and spiritual, inspired by church incense.

Blue Amber note image

Blue Amber

A variant of amber found in the Dominican Republic. In perfume, it usually means an amber accord with aromatic or marine touches.

View All Resins And Balsams Notes

Citrus

The sunshine of the fragrance world, these volatile oils provide the sparkling opening act that greets you the moment the mist hits the air. While they are fleeting by nature, their zesty, sour-sweet optimism is essential for lifting the heavier materials and preventing a perfume from feeling like a lead weight.

Grapefruit note image

Grapefruit

Bitter, zesty, and slightly sulfurous. It is uplifting and distinctly modern.

Citron note image

Citron

A large, ancient citrus fruit. It smells dry, zesty, and less sweet than lemon.

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

The oil from the rind. It contains the sulfurous, sparkly character of the fruit.

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

Lime note image

Lime

Sharper, drier, and more tropical than lemon. It has a distinct 'cola' nuance.

Bigarade note image

Bigarade

Another name for Bitter Orange. It is sharp, zesty, and less sweet than regular orange, adding a sophisticated tartness.

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

Sun-dried tangerine peel. It smells citrusy but aged and slightly medicinal.

Sudachi citrus note image

Sudachi citrus

Japanese citrus. Sour and spicy like lime.

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

Hassaku note image

Hassaku

A Japanese citrus hybrid. Smells like sour orange and grapefruit.

Finger Lime note image

Finger Lime

Caviar lime. It smells incredibly sharp, zesty, and exploding with sourness.

Blood Orange note image

Blood Orange

Juicier, sweeter, and redder than standard orange, with raspberry nuances. It feels lush and Mediterranean.

Palestinian Sweet Lime note image

Palestinian Sweet Lime

Limetta. A mild, non-acidic citrus scent.

Yuzu note image

Yuzu

Japanese grapefruit. A complex mix of lime, mandarin, and pine. Bitter and aromatic.

Neroli note image

Neroli

Steam-distilled orange blossom. It smells green, soapy, bitter, and exquisitely fresh.

Lemon note image

Lemon

Bright, acidic, and sunny. It can smell like fresh zest or cleaning fluid depending on the quality.

Citrus Water note image

Citrus Water

Diluted citrus scent. It smells faint, clean, and splashy.

Lemon Myrtle note image

Lemon Myrtle

An Australian leaf that smells 'more lemon than lemon.' Clean and sweet.

Pokan note image

Pokan

Taiwanese mandarin. Sweet and loose-skinned.

Methyl Pamplemousse note image

Methyl Pamplemousse

A synthetic grapefruit. Bitter, fresh, and slightly floral.

View All Citrus Notes

Assorted

A curated cabinet of curiosities for the notes that defy our desire for neat little boxes, yet remain absolutely essential to the perfumer's palette. Here you will find the outliers and the individualists, ingredients that possess a character so distinct they refuse to sit quietly with the flowers or the fruits.